can i use the imac as a monitor for my macbook?

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can i use the imac as a monitor for my macbook?

I am using a 2011 27 inch Imac and a MacBook Pro 15 with retina screen. I want to use the Imac screen as the monitor for my MacBook at times. Both machines have mountain lion with the latest version. Can I hook them togther using thunderbolt

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8), imac with mountain lion

Posted on Apr 29, 2013 7:02 PM

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Answer 1

Niel

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Apr 29, 2013 7:04 PM in response to awinters49

Yes. Use a Thunderbolt cable.

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Answer 2

awinters49 Author

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Apr 29, 2013 7:25 PM in response to Niel

Niel,

I tried that. After using a thunderbolt cable then what? There must be some software that is used. Please give me the steps. Thanks.

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Answer 3

Niel

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Apr 29, 2013 7:28 PM in response to awinters49

Click here for information.

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Answer 4

remy17

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Apr 29, 2013 8:54 PM in response to awinters49

^ What Niel said.

You can use what's called "Target Display Mode"

Here are the steps from that article to get it working:

Use an iMac with Thunderbolt as a display

If you have an iMac with Thunderbolt, any other Mac with Thunderbolt can use it as a display. The iMac will play both the video and audio from the other Mac.

Connect the Thunderbolt cable to the Thunderbolt ports on each computer.
Make sure both Mac computers are turned on and awake.
Press Command (⌘)-F2 on the keyboard of the external display Mac.
If you want the external display Mac to play audio as well as video from the primary Mac, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Sound, and then click Output. Select the external display Mac from the list of devices.

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